I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: July 17, 2022] Fucked Up [moved from January 23, 2021]

I’ve been intrigued by Canadian band Fucked Up since I first heard of them. Obviously they had no intention of getting mainstream success with a name like that.  And yet, their music has turned heads.

Which is also a bit of a puzzle because, while it can be very, very catchy, lead singer Pink Eyes screams like the lyrics are comic from the pit of his soul (although you can actually understand most of what he says, which is a neat trick).

Pink Eyes is Damian Abraham who had led the band since 2001.

Fascinatingly, the band won the Polaris Prize in 2009 (for an album with mostly guest vocalists).  They followed up that album with david Comes to Life in 2011–a rock opera set in 1970s and 1980s England. The story involves unreliable narrators and meta-narrative plot devices.

And so it was that in 2021, they were going to do a ten year anniversary and pay the album front to back.  It was postponed, but, undaunted, they pressed on in 2022.

I had never seen Fucked Up before, but had a pretty good idea what to expect.  And yet they exceeded any expectation.

The band came out on stage while a projection of the band with their logo was on the screen behind them.  They played the opening song (an instrumental) and then Damian came out in sweatpants, and a black vinyl glove (he later revealed that he had cut his hand and this was protecting his from getting blood everywhere).  He proceeded to do his screaming thing.

He stood on the edge of the audience and sang right at everyone.  He held the microphone out and people sang along with him.  He was 100% with the people.

The band was super tight and I have always loved the way the female backing vocals provide pretty balance with Damian’s screams.  You can hear it right off in “Queen of Hearts” as bassist Sandy Miranda and guest Robin Hatch sing the pretty vocals of veronica while Damian screams David’s responses.

I was in front of Miranda and one of the guitarists (Mike Haliechuk or Josh Zucker).

Meanwhile, Damian crawled on his knees, sang right to my face and was exhausting to watch.  And it was only the third song.

Drummer Jonah Falco pounded the hell out of his kit in the back and kept the whole thing from falling apart.  Actually that is not true at all.  The band is tight as anything, keeping these frenetic songs both on tempo and amazingly catchy,

The only person who looked out of place was Robin Hatch (wearing khaki shorts and a kind of preppy hat–Damian introduced her and apologized to her for them “dragging her into this nightmare”).  She plays with The Rural Alberta Advantage and she was fantastic and clearly enjoyed herself.  She has replaced guitarist Ben Cook.    and bassist  provided the heartbeat of the set, while guitarists  flexed their playing skills, nailing the complex leads and riffs that dominate David Comes to Life. Without guitarist Ben Cook, Robin Hatch lended her vocal and keyboard talents, providing exceptional harmonies and leads while keeping up with the band’s frenetic pace.

In the middle of the set drummer Jonah Falco came out to play guitar and sing two songs.  Then he went back behind the kit to finish the set.

As the album reached its end, Damian proceeded to crush up used water bottles that had made their way to the stage and stick them to his forehead.  He had two on his head which looked like horns.  It was pretty crazy.  But only half as crazy as when he wrapped the microphone cord around his head over and over so he had black lines all around his bald head.  And managed to sing through it all.

Despite all of his rage and screaming, Damian was welcoming and warm, encouraging LGBTQ+ fans and speaking to all of the important issues of the day.

For most shows they were playing their song “Police” for the encore, but for ours they did the song “David Comes to Life” from the 2006 album Hidden World.  It was a fun treat to hear the song that (maybe) inspired the album.

As I left the club, Damian was hanging outside talking to people and he was super friendly and nice.  I only chatted for a minute.  But It was very cool that he was hanging around willing to meet people.  What a fun night.

SETLIST

1. Let Her Rest Ð
2. Queen of Hearts Ð
3. Under My Nose Ð
4. The Other Shoe Ð
5. Turn the Season Ð
6. Running on Nothing Ð
7. Remember My Name Ð
8. A Slanted Tone Ð
9. Serve Me Right Ð
10. Truth I Know Ð
    (Jonah Falco on lead vocals and guitar)
11. Life in Paper Ð
    (Jonah Falco on lead vocals and guitar)
12. Ship of Fools Ð
13. A Little Death Ð
14. I Was There Ð
15. Inside a Frame  Ð
16. The Recursive Girl Ð
17. One More Night Ð
18. Lights Go Up Ð
    Encore
19. David Comes to Life Ø

Ø Hidden World (2006)
Ð David Comes to Life (2011)